Carissa served in the U.S. Air Force where she developed her love for travel and new cultures. She started her own blog and eventually joined The Points Guy. Since then, she’s contributed to Business ...
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With years of experience in corporate marketing and as the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar, Keri is now Editor-in-Chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and r...
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Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s c...
46 comments
Asaf
July 02, 2021
Can you please elaborate on the hot tip?
“Once Caesars and Wyndham statuses have been matched, that elite status is permanent — so long as you time it correctly.
This means that for your $295 you’ll get a spare $100 celebration dinner and a 4-night stay in the Bahamas each year. Forever.”
I’ll sign up for sure if that it’s true…
Thanks!
Carissa Rawson
July 21, 2021
Hey! We’ve gone ahead and detailed how to do it here for you: How To Maximize Hotel Elite Status Matches With Hyatt, M life, Caesars & Wyndham
George McGowan
September 01, 2021
I have the same question about this “You can also opt to skip the FoundersCard Elite option and choose to instead pay $495 for a lifetime significant other membership. This is a 1-time fee and gives your Player 2 a free FoundersCard as long as you hold yours.” and the link you provided is broken. Please explain?
Jarrod West
September 10, 2021
Hi George,
In order to purchase the lifetime significant other membership, you just need to contact the FoundersCard team directly and let them know you’d like to do so.
Nigel
January 27, 2022
Hi Carissa! The link is broken!
How To Maximize Hotel Elite Status Matches With Hyatt, M life, Caesars & Wyndham
Jarrod West
January 28, 2022
Hi Nigel,
The link appears to be working fine for me. Try copying into your address bar: /travel/hotels/hotel-elite-status-matches-hyatt-caesars-wyndham/
Brian Lee
June 16, 2022
You will get regular Diamond not a Diamond Elite
Nick
August 04, 2021
“$100,000 in Amazon Web Services (AWS) credits”
That isn’t true. If it were, everyone would get this card and mine crypto on AWS lol.
No other website is mentioning this perk. I don’t know where you got it from.
Jarrod West
August 05, 2021
Hi Nick,
That you for pointing out that error. The correct number is $5,000 in AWS credits, so we’ve updated the post to reflect that.
Matt
August 16, 2021
The benefits need amending now, you do not get diamond elite, you get basic diamond, and it does not include the Atlantis paradise island. here is the fineprint…
Please Note: Caesars Bluewaters Dubai and Atlantis Paradise Island benefit only valid for earned Tier Status (Diamond members earning at least 15,000 Tier Credits previous or current year). Diamond members that have earned less than 25,000 Tier Credits in 2021 may be charged for entry to Laurel Lounges. Diamond members that have earned at least 25,000 Tier Credits in 2021 and Seven Stars members will receive complimentary access.
matt
August 16, 2021
The Fine Print
Diamond upgrade valid through January 31, 2022. This upgrade does not include Diamond Plus or Diamond Elite benefits, and does not grant you tier credits.
Jarrod West
September 10, 2021
Hi Matt,
We see where you are coming from, but strangely enough from what we can tell, it seems that the Founderscard website is wrong. The actual Caesars T&C disqualifies the Dubai benefit, but not the Bahamas. Data points from other sites specifically include the Bahamas and nowhere else on the internet except for the FoundersCard blurb says anything about the Bahamas being unavailable.
Roberta
November 29, 2021
Is there anyway for me to sign up for Caesars card on line, then have Founders card process it so I can use the Caesars benefit during my next trip to Vegas?
Jarrod West
December 07, 2021
Hi Roberta,
I’m not sure I understand your question? You would need to have the FoundersCard in order to receive Caesars Diamond status, not the Caesars card.
Jennifer Zuraw
December 21, 2021
Does this card give one access to airport lounges?
Jarrod West
December 22, 2021
Hi Jennifer,
No, the FoundersCard does not offer lounge access.
Umesh
January 09, 2022
Some of these benefits are available outside the founders card. Not worth it. Airline and hotel benefits – credit cards offer much better benefits. I didn’t renew.
Cary
January 10, 2022
Hi,
I just joined and see most of the benefits under Elite, and not just the “regular” FoundersCard, based on what they are showing me in what I get with the $295.00 Elite up charge on their website.
Specifically, the Diamond status with Caesar is only showing if one elects to upgrade to Elite so not seeing most of the above benefits with the FoundersCard, but am showing with the FoundersCard Elite.
Tom
February 05, 2023
Across the board, the initial fee to get the card was $395, not too far off from an AMEX account. But, unlike AMEX, which has superior customer service and works with you to resolve an issue you may have with a merchant, NOT the FoundersCard, just crickets. Plus, the constantly push and send e-mails about “upgrading” your account. Also, in their Marketing stuff ie. “Crap”, they talk about networking events, which are apparently only in major cities, like NYC & LA. When I called their NO customer service line, I asked if there were any events planned for the next year within a two hour drive from my business, there was a long silence, followed by a “NO”. I stated that was not acceptable and asked for a refund of my remaining membership. Not only did they not send me a refund my remaining membership fee, they tried to charge my AMEX for a renewal along with an “upgrade” account fee. My dispute with AMEX was handled properly by AMEX customer service and they reversed the “bogus” charge. I also reported them to the FTC for refusing to refund my outstanding membership fee, but still have not heard back from them. Someone needs to start a “Class Action” suit against these scammers, and sign me up
Fionamac
January 20, 2022
It’s very hard to cancel Founders Card once you sign up, then even harder to get a refund when they renew your subscription (without any warning).
Terry M.
January 29, 2022
Has anyone actually taken advantage of the 4 night stay at Atlantis in the Bahamas? How “free” could it be, in reality? Also – how difficult is it to make it 8 nights instead of 4? Just curious.
Gerald Bradner
February 18, 2022
That’s misinformation, the Diamond status only gets you the stay at Atlantis if you have 15,000 tier credits. It’s not automatically available to folks that get a FoundersCard.
Stephen J
March 03, 2022
I was a Founders Club member for 12 months as I was given a free promotion to try it. I happen to also be an American Express Platinum Card holder and have been for 20 years. I found the Founders Club to be not that valuable and I opted to not go ahead and pay for it. They offered few perks I could not get with AMEX FH&R. They did have some interesting parties at Miami Art Basel for example, Super Bowl etc. but the cost of these experiences was north of $10,000 and was not for me.
Lee
January 06, 2023
I had the Founders Card a few years ago and came to the same realization. A person who travels even a moderate amount should already have available (without the card) many of the travel benefits the card offers. Combine that with benefits embedded in certain credit cards and a person is set. As for some of the discounts, seasoned travelers will have developed their own methods for those. The likely reader of this blog is probably not a candidate for the card.
Bruce
July 05, 2022
How do I get complimentary compassion? I’m an Elite member. Thank you.
Jarrod West
July 05, 2022
Hi Bruce,
I’m not sure what you mean by complimentary compassion?
SA
July 16, 2022
Isn’t all compassion complimentary? 😉
Mart Fisher
July 10, 2022
You imply that these benefits are part of the Founders Card. They are not. After you sign up you actually find you need to upgrade to Elite for an additional $295- to get any of these benefits. It’s actually completely misleading.
Jarrod West
July 11, 2022
Hi Mart,
We’ve broken down the difference in benefits between the standard and Elite perks in the article, the Elite section is near the bottom of the post.
SA
July 16, 2022
Could you please explain the Stripe benefit(s) i.e. does it mean they’ll waive the 3% fee on the first $20K/$50K (depending on which FoundersCard level one picks) of charges each year one remains a member? That works out to $600/$1500. So if one is using Stripe for collecting payments online, that’s a worthwhile benefit it seems (that will pay for itself since the FoundersCard is around $600/$1500 per annum). Am I missing/misunderstanding anything here? Thanks for all the good info on this page!
Jarrod West
July 19, 2022
Hi SA,
Correct, your first $20k-$50k in payments would be fee-free depending on your status level.
notbornyesterday
November 11, 2022
So the Founder’s Card is basically a modern day coupon book. Odds are most “members” probably can use less than 10% of the offerings.
E.S.
December 30, 2022
I got an offer for $295/year for 2 years, but must be pre-paid. I like the Caesar’s Diamond status benefit but the fine print reads: Diamond upgrade valid through January 31, 2023 for FoundersCard Members in good standing.
Considering they stay it may take up to 5 weeks to get the upgrade, I’m concerned this benefit might go away.
Andy
January 06, 2023
How do you book a night on the Hilton website with Founders card rate? I don’t see any option on the website for Founders card member
Jarrod West
January 19, 2023
Hi Andy,
Did you enter your FoundersCard code on the Hilton website?
Kris
January 08, 2023
Looks like Cathay Pacific status is no longer an option
Brian
January 19, 2023
So is the caesers diamond still a perk with the normal card? Or do you have to upgrade to elite to get this now?
Carissa Rawson
May 25, 2023
It’s still a perk with the normal card!
Michael Hart
January 22, 2023
It really looks quite complex with all sorts of shadow pathways and dead end alleyways. You have to look at the fine print (e.g., Hertz – only for US members) each time, other things are only available if you upgrade (i.e., Elite status), benefits explained on other webpages are wrong (e.g., getting the Elite membership only provides a “Complimentary Companion Standard Membership” not another Elite membership, and only “upon renewal” according to their website. I signed up for the complimentary 1 year free subscription and had to provide my credit card information. Now when I go into my account, I can’t find anywhere a place where I can cancel the subscription, only a place where I can upgrade and provide them with more money. Sorry – but I get a complete bafflegab feeling about this service and I haven’t even used it yet.
Lanika
February 01, 2023
I am glad you said this, I was just about to sign up for the free one year and now I am not going to! Especially after reading the comments.
Scott Barbrack
February 25, 2023
I entirely agree with your assessment Michael. For for me, when they tried to extend my membership the other day, my cc caught it and denied the charges.
Carissa Rawson
May 25, 2023
Hi Michael,
Thanks for your comment. When the article was originally published it was possible to get the companion membership immediately. Founderscard has since changed the terms and we’ve updated the article accordingly.
Judd Dunagan
July 20, 2023
These guys are shady. I highly recommend not using them.
Kevin
September 06, 2023
Do you have to be a business owner to get a FoundersCard?
Jarrod West
September 07, 2023
Hi Kevin,
No, you do not have to be a business owner. Thanks for reading!
GS
October 01, 2023
a bit of a scam, this is. they offer free membership, but then to get the promised benefits, you have to “upgrade”.
maybe some people get value here, but it sure as hell isnt easy to get.
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